NEW YORK (Diya TV) — The Toronto Raptors must wait a little longer to complete their trade for star forward Kawhi Leonard as the NBA continues its investigation into allegations involving the Los Angeles Clippers. The league has not finished its review, so the deal remains on hold. However, league officials expect the investigation to end in the coming weeks, raising hopes that the trade will soon move forward.
The delay began after reports claimed the Clippers gave Leonard improper financial benefits before he joined the team for the 2019-20 NBA season. The NBA launched its investigation in September. Since then, the league has shared very few updates. Now, both teams have confirmed that the trade cannot become official until the investigation ends.
The Clippers released a detailed statement on Thursday. The team said it has fully cooperated with the NBA for the past 10 months. According to the statement, team officials took part in dozens of interviews, submitted thousands of documents, and gave investigators access to staff members.
At the same time, the Clippers strongly denied the allegations. The organization said it never directed money to Leonard through the financial company Aspiration. Instead, the team claimed it became a victim of fraud involving Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. The statement noted that Sandberg has already been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Furthermore, the Clippers said they remain confident that the investigation will support their position. Team officials expressed hope that the NBA will confirm they did not violate league rules. They also acknowledged that the ongoing investigation has created uncertainty for both organizations, their players, and their fans.
Meanwhile, the Raptors also addressed the situation. The team confirmed it will wait until the NBA completes its investigation before finalizing the trade. According to reports, league officials informed Toronto that the franchise would have to assume the risk of any future penalties tied to Leonard’s contract if it completed the deal before the investigation ended.
As a result, the Raptors decided to delay the transaction. Team officials want greater clarity before accepting any possible consequences. That decision leaves Leonard and everyone else involved in the trade waiting for the NBA’s final ruling.
The investigation centers on claims that the Clippers used Aspiration to provide Leonard with $28 million through alleged “no-show jobs.” Reports suggested those payments may have helped the team offer additional compensation without violating the NBA salary cap. The Clippers continue to reject those claims.
Although the NBA has stayed mostly quiet throughout the investigation, the league did provide a brief update on Thursday. Officials said they do not have a specific deadline for the investigation. However, they expect the independent firm handling the review to finish its work within the next few weeks.
That timeline has fueled speculation that the trade could move forward soon. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported there is a growing belief around the league that the deal will ultimately receive approval. In addition, reports suggest the NBA Board of Governors could discuss the matter during its next scheduled meeting, which may take place as early as Tuesday.
Even so, the NBA has not announced any findings. Therefore, the trade remains incomplete until the league reaches a final decision. Both franchises must continue to wait before making any official roster changes tied to the agreement.
For now, the uncertainty affects more than just Leonard. Other players and draft picks included in the trade also remain in limbo. Teams cannot fully plan for the upcoming season until the NBA closes the investigation and approves the transaction.
